The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-01-20

Aue IaACOdu pt0Ui6ul ls uOW dcGlfely
in the political arena of the United
States Government, and We apprehend
that il is destined for many years to be
one Of the leading subjects Of agitation
among politicians. That the roads are
becoming arbitrary, and in many instan-
ces oppressive and unjust, cannot be con.
troverted, and still greater outgrowth
of the consolidation system which has
made such rapid acquisitions is the cen.
tralization of the business of the country
in large measure into few cities of the
Government. Towns do not prosper and
grow in proportion to their surroundings
and merits as compared with other towns,
but they are built up or wasted away by
the edicts Of certain capitalists who ma
nipulate railroad stocks, and by this
means control the trade of the country
along the lines they own. This condi-
tion Of things is rapidly growing worse,
and from it the demand has gone forth
by the people for relief. First, the
demand was needed in the States, and a
number of the States have responded by
the creation of Railroad Commission,
with various degrees of power. These
Commissions have in large degree dis
appointed the expectations of the people.
In many instances they have done some
good, but the courts have held that the
State Commissions cannot regulate
freights brought into, or carried out of
State. These decisions iu turn stirred
up; another agitation, which demanded
that the general government should take
the matter in hand, and by act of Con-
5gress give to the people relief from the
injustice of railroad discrimination.
This agitation has produced the Reagan.
Cullom Interstate Commerce Bill.
which has just passed the Senate. For
the reasons given elsewhere, we think
this Bill will work injuriously TO the
country, and particularly to the South,
andshould be defeated. But:that there is
demand for relief of the people Of the
whole couptry from the centraliSing and
onsolidating influences which permeate
railroad interests to-day cannot be sue
cessfully contro7erted. The great quea.
ton is, what can and should be done to
put q check upon these inauences2 Va
:rious expedients have been suggested, to
all ofwhich there are more or less for
midable objections, and we are ready to
confess that the problem is too great for
US to see q solution to it. Of all the sug-
gestions made for the correction of these
evils, we are, however, inclined to
believe that the time has arrived when
the Government should assume the
Ownership and control of all the lines of
railroad in the United States. 1t is true
that this scheme is liable to the objection
that it gives a great power to the govern.
3ment, but we think t.better for the gov
'ernment to have this power than for the
spectators Of Wall street to have it.
The objection to yesting power in the
Government applies to all the functions
- 81 y.
of Goyernment-the banking, the carry
ing Of the United States mails, and other
nnquestioned functions of the Govern.
5ment, give; it power. The Government
owns the public roads, and should own
the railroad tracks also. The right to
traverse the highways is given freely,
except on turn-pikes, and the right to
use the railroad tracks could be granted
for proper consideration to any person,
or persons, who wished to operate train
of passenger or freight GERS upon them.
It would give the government very little
party power. and would render competi-
ton easy and ample. 1t would throw
every community upon its own merits as
to its commercial traffic, and would save
millions of dollars that are now being
expended in railroad tracks to run com.
=peting lines Of traffic upon. Such o
change would give the people relief.
We do not believe that anything short Of
some scheme Of this sort will, or can do